Italy is consistently ranked among the top destinations visited by American travelers, and it is by far the most popular country among travel advisors booking independent clients with custom tour operator and FIT* specialist Avanti Destinations.
The company just issued a new 100-page advisor print reference guide on Italy, which can be ordered at https://www.avantidestinations.com/orderbrochures. Avanti’s product manager for Italy, Tami Cortez, also discussed trends in bookings and highlights where new packages, tours and accommodations have been added.
Since its founding in 1981, Avanti has been selling custom FIT travel exclusively through advisors, not directly to consumers, in Europe, Asia, the South Pacific, North Africa, the Middle East and Central and South America. “Of the 58 countries we sell, Italy has always been our most popular destination, and it’s where we have our deepest product offering,” Cortez said in statement.
The new print reference guide on Italy for advisors includes descriptions of 15 customizable vacation packages, 240 hotels, villas, and resorts—more than 90 percent of which are rated four-star or higher, 355 tours and experiences—more than 90 percent of which are private.These products are available in nearly every region of the country. Cortez pointed out that Avanti’s complete product lineup in Italy is even more comprehensive, including 400 accommodations and more than 1,000 tours and experiences in nearly 60 cities and towns.
The 15 new packages in the reference guide were designed to be booked as described or can be customized for the number of days, particular hotel/villa properties, and adding or subtracting destinations and services such as sightseeing tours, experiences, and transfers. “All these packages are complete F.I.T. vacations with some of our favorite properties, activities, tours, and transfers to provide a starting point for clients who aren’t sure what they might like to do,” said Cortez. “But advisors can easily get a quote and book them as is.”
Prices are not listed in the printed reference guide, but a QR code next to each package description takes readers—via mobile phone, tablet or computer—to Avanti’s InstaQuote (quote.avantidestinations.com). After entering some basic information—arrival date, number and type of rooms, hotel star rating—advisors receive an email proposal within 90 seconds that includes pricing for the itinerary as described in the reference guide (and on the InstaQuote app). This proposal can be shared with the client and then thoroughly customized to suit their preferences on Avanti’s advisor portal.